December
16,
1928
16,
1928
December
11,
2017
11,
2017
Mildred's childhood memories of growing up on the farm were filled with activities such as running races, playing tag, playing hide and seek in the corn field, and singing in the hay loft with her siblings.They would challenge each other to see who could climb the highest in the trees."Well", she commented, "It was never me."
Times were difficult while growing up, but she always felt fortunate to get a new dress or a pair of shoes.She never got a doll or a toy during her childhood.Aunt Kate from Chicago sent her a red handkerchiefwith her initial "M" on it and she still has it today.
Mildred attended kindergarten, first grade and part of her second grade at District 2 Country School.When visiting the school, the teacher asked someone to come up and sing the ABC song.Immediately, Mildred ran to the front of the class and to the amazement of everyone she sang the song which she had learned while listening to the phonograph.
She attended St. Josephat's Catholic school through the eighth grade.She walked several miles to attend the country school.During the winter storms, her mom would walk them to school.
Mildred spent her high school years in various schools:freshman year at Loup City High School; sophomore and junior year at Wiggle Creek High School; and her senior year at St Paul High School in St Paul, Nebraska.Eventually she would receive her college degree; associate degree in elementary education from Scottsbluff Junior College; Bachelors Degree in elementary education and special education from the University of Nebraska at Omaha; and post graduate hours in counseling at the University of Missouri in Kansas City, Missouri.
During Mildred's senior year at high school she met the love of her life, Donald Zimbelman.She attended a wedding dance of Don's brother.After Pete Peterson introduced them to each other they became inseparable.Don, a sailor in WWII, was home on leave.When he had to return to active duty they wrote letters to each other everyday.Upon his return they got married on March 8, 1947.This year they celebrated 70 years of married life together.
Family was the heart of their lives.They were blessed with three children; Donald Jr., Susan, and Bruce. Love is what bound them together as a couple and it quickly flowed to their children.Their family eventually grew to 14 grandchildren, 28 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren.
In the summer of 1948, Mildred accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior and Lord.She always felt it was a honor to be chosen to sing for God and teach Sunday School.She always felt that God's covering was over her.The Lord used the pastor,where she taught Sunday School, to set her on her life's destiny to teach the children of God.He told her that she had a gift for teaching.
Mildred began her teaching career at Victory Hill, a country school.She was awarded "Teacher of the Year" for the county and received a lifetime membership of Nebraska's PTA.
Due to Don's job with Mobil Oil they were transferred several times which gave her an opportunity to teach school in Scottsbluff, Ne; Papillion, Ne; Kansas City, Mo; and Sword of the Spirit Christian School in Omaha, Ne.
She taught special education classes, elementary classes, and high school classes.She served as a supervisor teacher with testing and placing children with special needs into their classes.Several times she was listed, Who's Who of American Teachers.During her 54 years of teaching, she was living proof that teachers touch the heart of their students forever.
Mildred and Don wanted to always invest in the lives of God's people; so with their retirement funds they opened Divine Truth Christian Bookstore in LaVista, Ne.Their desire for the store was to be a place that the Lord could send people who needed prayer and encouragement on their journey to the Celestial City.The Lord blessed the store and it became to them the Miracle on 84th Street.Since Mildred believed God called her to teach children, the store adopted Sword of the Spirit as their mission project.
She wanted to start a pre-school with her daughter; however, God had different plans.They worked together at Sword of the Spirit Christian School where the tuition is a love offering for the parents and the teaching staff are missionaries.
Mildred enjoyed writing poetry which left her family with insight into the depth of her heart.She even had one of her pieces published in a poetry book,This is one of her poems.
Precious Lord
Precious Lord
My Redeemer
My Savior
Your blood
Spilt for
My Soul
Precious Lord
Almighty God
My Confident
My Healer
Help me
Through trials
Precious Lord
My Light
My All
Take Me
From fear
To faith
Precious Lord
Most High
Living Son
Give Me
Everlasting life
Breath eternally
Precious Lord
My Shepherd
Teach Me
Guide Me
Through Valleys
Upward reaching the sky
Precious Lord
King Divine
My Inspiration
My Righteousness
Make Me
Like Thee
Precious Lord
My Strength
My Rock
Hold Me
Love Me
Forever More
Precious Lord
Glorious King
Majesty exalted
Awesome Lord
My peace
My contentment
Precious Lord
My love
My life
Who reigns
Above All
My heart rejoices endlessly
Mildred was strickened with an accute heart attack on Monday, December 4, 2017.During the last week of her life, she gave her family a glimpse of heaven by describing what she saw."It is beautiful, it is beautiful, I see Jesus," she exclaimed. Then being the wife, mother, and grandmother she gave everyone instructions concerning the days to come.
Mildred Rose was preceeded in death by her parents Anna and Bohumil Suchanek; sisters- Anne Schwerger, Helen Bobb, Dorothy Senkbil , Kathleen Bagin; brothers-Mike, Emil, Anthony, Robert and George Suchanek; grandchild-Jeremiah Mackrill and baby Mackrill; great-grandchild Charlie Ginn
Survived by her husband Donald Zimbelman; children Donald (Sandra)Zimbelman Jr., Susan (Rod) Mackrill, Bruce (Debbie) Zimbelman; 14 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren
For all the people Grandma loved she would want you to know the life lesson she learned which she recorded in her journal.
I have learned that when you are young to not look at your present situation because you do not always see the great scheme that God has for you in life.It does not matter what your age is, or what status you are in life, or how rich and famous your parents are because life can be full of dreams to succeed.With determination, attitude and perseverance, you can have an enriched life.It is amazing how God works mysteriously in your life to succeed and become the person He wants you to be.
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